Electromagnetic valve unit

ABSTRACT

An electromagnetic valve unit held so as to be sandwiched between a receiving portion of a housing portion of control equipment and a pressing member includes a shoulder portion to be opposed to the receiving portion of the housing portion and an annular elastic member provided with a protruded portion to be inserted into a recessed portion formed at the shoulder portion. The annular elastic member is further provided with an annular deformation portion that is deformable in the axial direction so as not to press the protruded portion in the axial direction.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 17/270,802, filed Feb. 23, 2021, which in turn is a 371 filingbased on PCT International Patent Application Serial No.PCT/JP2019/035377, filed Sep. 9, 2019, the contents of which areincorporated herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an electromagnetic valve unit attachedto control equipment and configured to control fluid inside.

BACKGROUND ART

Adjustment of the degree of opening of a flow path in control equipmentand control of a fluid flow rate by an electromagnetic valve unitincluding a coil and a movable iron core has been generally performed.Most of these electromagnetic valve units have been used with theelectromagnetic valve unit being housed and attached in, e.g., a housingportion facing the flow path of the control equipment configured tocontrol fluid.

An electromagnetic valve unit described in Patent Citation 1 is housedin a bottomed tubular yoke. A valve sleeve is swaged to the yoke in astate in which the valve sleeve is pushed in from an opening side of theyoke, and the electromagnetic valve unit is placed with theelectromagnetic valve unit being sandwiched by a bottom portion of theyoke and the valve sleeve. A wave washer is arranged between the bottomportion of the yoke and a body portion of the electromagnetic valveunit. Even if looseness is caused between the yoke and a swaging portionof the valve sleeve due to, e.g., aging, the body portion of theelectromagnetic valve unit is pressed against the valve sleeve byrepulsive force of the wave washer, and looseness of the body portion ofthe electromagnetic valve unit in the yoke is reduced.

Instead of, e.g., such a wave washer having high repulsive force, anelastic member arranged between a bottom portion of a housing portion ofcontrol equipment and the body portion of the electromagnetic valveunit, made of, e.g., rubber or synthetic resin, and havingrelatively-low repulsive force is also used. A ring-shaped elasticmember 700 illustrated in FIG. 11 is held on a shoulder portion 200 ofan electromagnetic valve unit 100 facing a bottom portion 140 a of ahousing portion 140 in control equipment 110. Specifically, the shoulderportion 200 is formed in such a manner that an upper-end-side cornerportion of a body portion of the electromagnetic valve unit 100 is cutout in a circumferential direction, and is in a step shape including ahorizontal surface 100 b horizontally extending from an outer peripheralsurface 100 a of the body portion of the electromagnetic valve unit 100in an inner diameter direction and a vertical surface 100 c standingupward from an inner-diameter-side end portion of the horizontal surface100 b. The elastic member 700 is fitted onto the vertical surface 100 c.According to such a configuration, the body portion of theelectromagnetic valve unit 100 and the elastic member 700 are integrallyinserted into the housing portion 140. Thus, there are advantages thatnot only the process of inserting the electromagnetic valve unit 100 isfacilitated, but also high accuracy is not required for a pressingamount for pressing the electromagnetic valve unit 100 to a bottomportion 140 a side of the housing portion 140.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   Patent Citation 1: JP 2015-102150 A (Page 8, FIG. 1)

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

However, in a case where the elastic member 700 made of, e.g., rubber orsynthetic resin is used as described in Patent Citation 1, if clampingforce of the elastic member 700 is weak for the shoulder portion 200 ofthe electromagnetic valve unit 100, specifically for the verticalsurface 100 c, the electromagnetic valve unit 100 is twisted upon theprocessing of inserting the electromagnetic valve unit 100. There is aprobability that when the elastic member 700 is pinched by the shoulderportion 200 and the bottom portion 140 a of the housing portion 140 in atwisted state, the body portion of the electromagnetic valve unit 100cannot be accurately attached to the housing portion 140. On the otherhand, if the clamping force on the shoulder portion 200 of the elasticmember 700, specifically on the vertical surface 100 c, is strengthened,intrinsic stress of the elastic member 700 in a radial directionincreases, leading to a problem that necessary repulsive force cannot besufficiently ensured between the housing portion 140 and the shoulderportion 200 of the electromagnetic valve unit 100.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-describedproblem, and is intended to provide an electromagnetic valve unitconfigured so that in a state in which necessary repulsive force issufficiently ensured between a housing portion of control equipment andthe electromagnetic valve unit, the electromagnetic valve unit can beeasily and accurately attached to the housing portion.

Solution to Problem

In order to solve the above-described problem, an electromagnetic valveunit of the present invention is an electromagnetic valve unit held soas to be sandwiched between a receiving portion of a housing portion ofcontrol equipment and a pressing member in an axial direction of theelectromagnetic valve unit, including: a shoulder portion to be opposedto the receiving portion of the housing portion; and an annular elasticmember provided with a protruded portion to be inserted into a recessedportion formed at the shoulder portion, wherein the annular elasticmember is further provided with an annular deformation portion that isdeformable in the axial direction of the electromagnet valve unit so asnot to press the protruded portion in the axial direction. According tothe aforesaid feature of the present invention, in the electromagneticvalve unit, the protruded portion of the annular elastic member isinserted into and fixed to the recessed portion of the shoulder portion,whereas the annular deformation portion of the annular elastic membernot overlapping with the protruded portion in the axis line direction isdeformed in the axial direction when the shoulder portion of theelectromagnetic valve unit is pressed to a receiving portion side of thehousing portion of the control equipment. Thus, the electromagneticvalve unit can be easily and accurately attached to the housing portionin a state in which sufficient repulsive force in the axial direction isensured between the housing portion of the control equipment and theshoulder portion of the electromagnetic valve unit. Further, theprotruded portion of the annular elastic member is inserted into andfixed to the recessed portion of the shoulder portion, and therefore,dropping of the annular elastic member from the shoulder portion of theelectromagnetic valve unit due to, e.g., vibration upon conveyance orhandling of the electromagnetic valve unit can be prevented.

It may be preferable that the deformation portion is to be arrangedalong an outer peripheral surface of the shoulder portion. According tothis preferable configuration, e.g., twisting of the deformation portionis restricted by the shoulder portion, and therefore, the deformationportion can be accurately pinched between the shoulder portion and thereceiving portion.

It may be preferable that the outer diameter of the deformation portionis smaller than the inner diameter of the housing portion. According tothis preferable configuration, the electromagnetic valve unit can beeasily inserted into the housing portion, and the deformation portioncan be deformed in an outer diameter direction. Thus, a deformationtolerance of the deformation portion in the axial direction can besufficiently ensured.

It may be preferable that the protruded portion is formed in an annularshape continuing in a circumferential direction, the recessed portion isformed in an annular shape continuing in the circumferential direction,and the protruded portion is inserted into the recessed portion.According to this preferable configuration, the annular elastic membercan be held on the shoulder portion of the electromagnetic valve unitwith favorable balance in the circumferential direction.

It may be preferable that the protruded portion is partially formed inthe circumferential direction, the recessed portion is partially formedin the circumferential direction, and the protruded portion ispress-fitted in the recessed portion. According to this preferableconfiguration, turning of the annular elastic member in thecircumferential direction is restricted.

It may be preferable that the recessed portion is formed in the shoulderportion so as to be recessed in a radially inward direction with a wallportion remaining in the axial direction. According to this preferableconfiguration, the protruded portion is hooked on the wall portion whenthe annular elastic member moves in a detachment direction, andtherefore, it is less likely to detach the annular elastic member fromthe shoulder portion.

It may be preferable that the recessed portion is formed in the shoulderportion so as to be recessed in the axial direction. According to thispreferable configuration, attachment directions of the protruded portionand the deformation portion are the same as each other, and therefore,assembly of the annular elastic member with the shoulder portion isfacilitated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a buffer deviceincluding an electromagnetic valve unit according to a first embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front sectional view illustrating the electromagnetic valveunit in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an elastic member in the firstembodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front sectional view illustrating a state in which theelastic member in the first embodiment is attached to a shoulder portionof the electromagnetic valve unit.

FIG. 5 is a front sectional view illustrating a state in which theelectromagnetic valve unit in the first embodiment is attached to ahousing.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an elastic member of anelectromagnetic valve unit according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is a front sectional view illustrating a state in which theelastic member in the second embodiment is attached to a shoulderportion of an electromagnetic valve unit.

FIG. 8 is an A-A sectional view of FIG. 7 .

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating an elastic member of anelectromagnetic valve unit according to a third embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 is a front sectional view illustrating a state in which theelastic member in the third embodiment is attached to a shoulder portionof an electromagnetic valve unit.

FIG. 11 is a front sectional view illustrating a state in which anelastic member in a typical example is attached to a shoulder portion ofa conventional electromagnetic valve unit.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, modes for carrying out an electromagnetic valve unitaccording to the present invention will be described based onembodiments.

First Embodiment

An electromagnetic valve unit according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 .Hereinafter, a near side in the plane of paper of FIG. 1 will bedescribed as a front side (or a forward side) of the electromagneticvalve unit, and right and left sides as viewed in FIG. 1 will bedescribed as right and left sides of the electromagnetic valve unit.

The electromagnetic valve unit 1 of the present invention is, forexample, provided at a vehicle such as an automobile. Theelectromagnetic valve unit 1 is attached to a buffer device 10 (alsoreferred to as control equipment), which is configured to mitigatevibration transmitted from a road surface to a vehicle body duringrunning and which is used together with a spring, to control the flowrate of fluid passing through a piston 14, thereby adjusting dampingforce provided by the buffer device 10.

First, a configuration of the buffer device 10 will be described. Asillustrated in FIG. 1 , the buffer device 10 includes a tubular cylinder11 housing the fluid, a piston rod 12 movable relative to the cylinder11 in an axial direction, and the piston 14 provided at an end portionof the piston rod 12 and provided with a piston ring 13 at the outerperiphery. The piston 14 divides a space inside the cylinder 11 into afirst liquid chamber R1 and a second liquid chamber R2. The piston 14 isin a bottomed tubular shape opening downward (see FIG. 2 ), and multiplethrough-holes 14 a penetrating the piston 14 in a radial direction areformed in a circumferential direction at positions above the piston ring13.

Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 2 , the electromagnetic valve unit 1 ishoused in a housing recessed portion 14A as a housing portion of thepiston 14, and a tubular body 15 as a pressing member including, at anouter peripheral surface, an external thread portion 15 s to be screwedinto an internal thread portion 14 s provided at a lower-end-side innerperipheral surface of the piston 14 is screwed into and connected to alower side with respect to the electromagnetic valve unit 1. Theelectromagnetic valve unit 1 is pressed against a step portion 14 bprovided at a bottom portion of the piston 14 by an upper end portion 15c of the tubular body 15. Note that the step portion 14 b includes atubular inner peripheral surface 14 c forming the housing recessedportion 14A, a horizontal surface 14 d as a receiving portion extendingfrom an upper end of the inner peripheral surface 14 c in an innerdiameter direction, and an inclined surface 14 e narrowed as extendingupward from an inner-diameter-side edge of the horizontal surface 14 d.The electromagnetic valve unit 1 is sandwiched by the horizontal surface14 d and the upper end portion 15 c of the tubular body 15.

Further, a through-hole 14 f penetrating the piston 14 in an upper-lowerdirection is formed at the step portion 14 b of the piston 14, and isspecifically formed above the inclined surface 14 e. An electric wire LNconfigured to supply power to a later-described coil portion 2 isinserted into the through-hole 14 f. Note that the electric wire LN isconnected to an external power source through the inside of the pistonrod 12.

Next, a configuration of the electromagnetic valve unit 1 will bedescribed. The electromagnetic valve unit 1 mainly includes the coilportion 2, a solenoid rod 3 as a movable iron core to be moved up anddown by the coil portion 2, a valve member 4 connected to a lower endportion of the solenoid rod 3, a tubular member 5 connected to a lowerside of the coil portion 2, and an elastic member 7 attached to the coilportion 2.

The coil portion 2 is a mold coil that a coil is molded with a resinmaterial, and a hole 2 a opening downward is formed at a center portionof the coil portion 2. Moreover, a shoulder portion 2 b is formed at anupper-end-side corner portion of the coil portion 2, and the elasticmember 7 as a later-described ring-shaped annular elastic member isattached to the shoulder portion 2 b. Note that the detailed shapes ofthe shoulder portion 2 b and the elastic member 7 will be describedlater. Further, a stationary iron core 2 y is arranged below the coilportion 2.

An external thread portion 3 a is formed at a tip end portion (i.e., thelower end portion) of the solenoid rod 3, and a large portion of thesolenoid rod 3 is housed in the hole 2 a of the coil portion 2.

The valve member 4 is in a T sectional shape including a small diameterportion 4 a and a large diameter portion 4 b provided at an upper end ofthe small diameter portion 4 a, and at an upper center portion of thevalve member 4, a hole 4 d opening upward and having an internal threadportion 4 c at an inner peripheral surface is formed. The valve member 4and the solenoid rod 3 are connected to each other by screwing of theinternal thread portion 4 c and the external thread portion 3 a.

The tubular member 5 includes a tubular portion 5 a fixed to a lowerportion of the stationary iron core 2 y and covering the valve member 4and an annular valve seat portion 5 b projecting from a lower end of thetubular portion 5 a in the inner diameter direction. Note that thetubular member 5 may be formed integrally with the stationary iron core2 y. The inner diameter of the valve seat portion 5 b is greater thanthat of the small diameter portion 4 a of the valve member 4, and issmaller than that of the large diameter portion 4 b of the valve member4. Moreover, multiple through-holes 5 c penetrating the tubular portion5 a in the radial direction are formed in the circumferential directionat the tubular portion 5 a, and the through-holes 5 c are provided atthe substantially-same positions as those of the through-holes 14 a ofthe piston 14 in the axial direction (i.e., the upper-lower direction)and are communicated with the through-holes 14 a. Further, a spring 6 bconfigured to bias the large diameter portion 4 b of the valve member 4and the valve seat portion 5 b in a separation direction is arrangedbetween the large diameter portion 4 b and the valve seat portion 5 b.

Next, adjustment of the damping force by the electromagnetic valve unit1 will be described. In the electromagnetic valve unit 1, thethrough-holes 14 a of the piston 14, the through-holes 5 c of thetubular member 5, a lower-end-side opening of the tubular member 5(i.e., the inside of the valve seat portion 5 b), and the tubular body15 form a flow path allowing communication between the first liquidchamber R1 and the second liquid chamber R2.

In a non-energization state of the coil portion 2, the solenoid rod 3 isbiased upward by biasing force of the spring 6 b, the large diameterportion 4 b of the valve member 4 and the valve seat portion 5 b areseparated from each other, and a clearance between the large diameterportion 4 b and the valve seat portion 5 b is a dimension L1 (see theleft side of the solenoid rod 3 of FIG. 2 ). In an energization state ofthe coil portion 2, the solenoid rod 3 moves downward against thebiasing force of the spring 6 b, the large diameter portion 4 b of thevalve member 4 and the valve seat portion 5 b approach or contact eachother, and the clearance between the large diameter portion 4 b and thevalve seat portion 5 b is a dimension L2 smaller than the dimension L1(see the right side of the solenoid rod 3 of FIG. 2 ).

That is, the electromagnetic valve unit 1 is configured such that thecoil portion 2 is brought into the energization state to narrow theclearance (i.e., the flow path) between the large diameter portion 4 band the valve seat portion 5 b and increase the damping force of thebuffer device 10 and is brought into the non-energization state toensure a great clearance between the large diameter portion 4 b and thevalve seat portion 5 b and decrease the damping force of the bufferdevice 10.

Next, the elastic member 7 will be described. As illustrated in FIGS. 3and 4 , the elastic member 7 is an annular member made of, e.g., rubberor synthetic resin, and includes an annular portion 7 a as a deformationportion having an elongated rectangular sectional shape and an annularprotruded portion 7 b protruding from a lower-end-side inner peripheraledge of the annular portion 7 a in the inner diameter direction. Theelastic member 7 is in an L shape as viewed in the section.

The shoulder portion 2 b of the coil portion 2 is in such a shape thatthe upper-end-side corner portion of the coil portion 2 is cut out inthe circumferential direction, and is in a step shape including ahorizontal surface 2 d horizontally extending from an outer peripheralsurface 2 c of the coil portion 2 in the inner diameter direction and avertical surface 2 e standing upward from an inner-diameter-side endportion of the horizontal surface 2 d. Moreover, an annular recessedportion 2 f recessed in the inner diameter direction is formed at alower end of the vertical surface 2 e.

The elastic member 7 is configured such that the annular portion 7 a isfitted onto the vertical surface 2 e and the protruded portion 7 b isattached to the shoulder portion 2 b with the protruded portion 7 bbeing inserted into the recessed portion 2 f. In a state in which theelastic member 7 is attached to the shoulder portion 2 b, a lowersurface 7 c of the annular portion 7 a contacts the horizontal surface 2d, and an upper surface 7 d of the annular portion 7 a is arranged abovean upper surface 2 g of the shoulder portion 2 b. That is, theupper-lower dimension of the annular portion 7 a is greater than theupper-lower dimension of the vertical surface 2 e. Moreover, the outerdiameter of the vertical surface 2 e of the shoulder portion 2 b isslightly longer than the inner diameter of the annular portion 7 a ofthe elastic member 7.

As described above, the elastic member 7 can be reliably attached to theshoulder portion 2 b of the coil portion 2 by clamping force (see ablack arrow in an enlarged portion of FIG. 4 ) of the annular portion 7a in the inner diameter direction and the protruded portion 7 b insertedinto the recessed portion 2 f. Further, the protruded portion 7 b isinserted into the annular recessed portion 2 f across thecircumferential direction. Thus, it is less likely to detach the elasticmember 7 from the coil portion 2, and the elastic member 7 can beattached to the shoulder portion 2 b of the electromagnetic valve unit 1with substantially-uniform holding force in the circumferentialdirection by the clamping force of the annular portion 7 a in the innerdiameter direction. Particularly, since the protruded portion 7 b isinserted into the recessed portion 2 f, the protruded portion 7 b ishooked on an upper wall portion of the recessed portion 2 f. Thus, evenif external force in a detachment direction (e.g., an upper direction)acts on the elastic member 7 upon delivery or transportation of theelectromagnetic valve unit 1, detachment of the elastic member 7 fromthe shoulder portion 2 b can be prevented.

As illustrated in FIG. 5 , in a state in which the electromagnetic valveunit 1 is housed in the housing recessed portion 14A of the piston 14and the tubular body 15 is screwed into and connected to the piston 14(see FIG. 2 ), the electromagnetic valve unit 1 is pushed up from belowby the tubular body 15, and the annular portion 7 a of the elasticmember 7 is, in the upper-lower direction, sandwiched between thehorizontal surface 14 d of the piston 14 and the horizontal surface 2 dof the shoulder portion 2 b.

As described above, the protruded portion 7 b of the elastic member 7 isinserted into and fixed to the recessed portion 2 f of the shoulderportion 2 b, whereas the annular portion 7 a is deformed in the axialdirection when the electromagnetic valve unit 1 is pressed to ahorizontal surface 14 d side of the housing recessed portion 14A. Thus,the electromagnetic valve unit 1 can be easily and accurately attachedto the housing recessed portion 14A in a state in which sufficientrepulsive force is ensured between the housing recessed portion 14A andthe electromagnetic valve unit 1.

Specifically, since the protruded portion 7 b is inserted into therecessed portion 2 f, the elastic member 7 is fixed not to drop from theshoulder portion 2 b. Thus, it is enough to ensure a small function(i.e., small clamping force) of holding the annular portion 7 a on theshoulder portion 2 b, and intrinsic stress of the annular portion 7 a inthe radial direction can be decreased. Thus, the annular portion 7 a canbe accurately and sufficiently deformed in the axial direction, andsufficient repulsive force can be ensured between the housing recessedportion 14A and the electromagnetic valve unit 1. With thisconfiguration, even if screwing and connection between the piston 14 andthe tubular body 15 are loosened due to, e.g., aging, theelectromagnetic valve unit 1 can be pressed against the tubular body 15by repulsive force of the annular portion 7 a, and therefore, rattlingof the electromagnetic valve unit 1 in the housing recessed portion 14Acan be reduced. Moreover, the annular portion 7 a has relatively-lowerrepulsive force than, e.g., that of a typical wave washer, and it isenough to ensure small force when the electromagnetic valve unit 1 ispressed to the horizontal surface 14 d side of the housing recessedportion 14A and no high attachment accuracy is required. Thus, theelectromagnetic valve unit 1 can be easily attached to the housingrecessed portion 14A. Note that the annular portion 7 a does not overlapwith the protruded portion 7 b in an axis line direction, and therefore,intrinsic stress of the protruded portion 7 b provides no influence ondeformation of the annular portion 7 a in the axial direction. In otherwords, the annular portion 7 a is deformable in the axial direction soas not to press the protruded portion 7 b in the axial direction.

Moreover, the annular portion 7 a is arranged along the vertical surface2 e of the shoulder portion 2 b, and therefore, when the electromagneticvalve unit 1 is inserted into the housing recessed portion 14A, e.g.,twisting of the annular portion 7 a can be restricted by the shoulderportion 2 b and the annular portion 7 a can be accurately pinchedbetween the shoulder portion 2 b and the horizontal surface 14 d.

Further, the outer diameter of the annular portion 7 a is smaller thanthe inner diameter of the housing recessed portion 14A, and therefore, aclearance is formed between the annular portion 7 a and the innerperipheral surface 14 c of the housing recessed portion 14A. Accordingto such a configuration, when the electromagnetic valve unit 1 isinserted into the housing recessed portion 14A, the annular portion 7 adoes not contact the inner peripheral surface 14 c of the housingrecessed portion 14A, and therefore, the electromagnetic valve unit 1 iseasily inserted into the housing recessed portion 14A.

In addition, when the annular portion 7 a is pinched by the horizontalsurface 14 d and the horizontal surface 2 d, the annular portion 7 a canbe deformed in an outer diameter direction, and therefore, a deformationtolerance of the annular portion 7 a in the upper-lower direction can besufficiently ensured. With this configuration, the repulsive force ofthe annular portion 7 a in the upper-lower direction can be increased,and the horizontal surface 2 d of the electromagnetic valve unit 1 andthe horizontal surface 14 d of the housing recessed portion 14A can bearranged close to each other. Thus, the dimension of the buffer device10 in the upper-lower direction can be compact. Note that in the presentembodiment, the upper surface 7 d of the annular portion 7 a is at thesame height as that of the upper surface 2 g of the shoulder portion 2 bin a state in which the annular portion 7 a is pinched.

Note that in the first embodiment, the form in which the protrudedportion 7 b is inserted, specifically loosely fitted, into the recessedportion 2 f and the elastic member 7 and the shoulder portion 2 b arefixed by the clamping force of the annular portion 7 a in the innerdiameter direction has been described by way of example, but theprotruded portion 7 b may be press-fitted in the recessed portion 2 f.In this case, the annular portion 7 a may be placed apart from thevertical surface 2 e of the shoulder portion 2 b. That is, the elasticmember 7 may be attached to the shoulder portion 2 b in a state in whichno stress in the radial direction is on the annular portion 7 a.Alternatively, the elastic member 7 may be attached to the shoulderportion 2 b by repulsive force of the protruded portion 7 b press-fittedin the recessed portion 2 f and the additionally-acting clamping forceof the annular portion 7 a in the inner diameter direction.

Second Embodiment

Next, an electromagnetic valve unit according to a second embodiment ofthe present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8 .Note that configuration description overlapping with that of theabove-described embodiment will be omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 6 , an elastic member 72 in the second embodimentis configured such that protruded portions 72 b protruding from anannular portion 7 a having an elongated rectangular sectional shape inan inner diameter direction are provided at positions facing each otherwith respect to the center axis of the annular portion 7 a. Theprotruded portions 72 b have the same height as that of the annularportion 7 a.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 , the elastic member 72 is attached to ashoulder portion 22 b of a coil portion 2. Specifically, the shoulderportion 22 b is in a step shape including a horizontal surface 22 dhorizontally extending from an outer peripheral surface 2 c of the coilportion 2 in the inner diameter direction and a vertical surface 22 estanding upward from an inner-diameter-side end portion of thehorizontal surface 22 d. Moreover, at the vertical surface 22 e,recessed portions 22 f recessed in the inner diameter direction areprovided at positions facing each other with respect to the center axis.The recessed portions 22 f are cut out to open in an upper direction andan outer diameter direction. Note that the left side in the plane ofpaper of FIG. 7 illustrates a state in which the coil portion 2 is cutat the position of the protruded portion 72 b, and the right side in theplane of paper illustrates a state in which the coil portion 2 is cut ata position different from the position of the protruded portion 72 b.

Each protruded portion 72 b of the elastic member 72 is press-fitted inthe recessed portion 22 f of the shoulder portion 22 b, and the annularportion 7 a is fitted onto the vertical surface 22 e. According to sucha configuration, the elastic member 72 can be reliably attached to theshoulder portion 22 b of the coil portion 2 by repulsive force (seewhite arrows in an enlarged portion of FIG. 8 ) of the protruded portion72 b, which is press-fitted in the recessed portion 22 f, in acircumferential direction and additionally-acting clamping force (seeblack arrows in the enlarged portion of FIG. 8 ) of the annular portion7 a in the inner diameter direction. Note that the annular portion 7 aand the protruded portions 72 b do not overlap with each other, andtherefore, intrinsic stress of the protruded portions 72 b provides noinfluence on deformation of the annular portion 7 a in an axialdirection.

Moreover, the protruded portions 72 b contact wall portions 22 j of therecessed portions 22 f in the circumferential direction, and therefore,relative turning of the elastic member 72 and the coil portion 2 isrestricted. Note that the recessed portion 22 f opens in the upperdirection, and therefore, the elastic member 72 can be attached to theshoulder portion 22 b from above and attachment of the elastic member 72is facilitated without the need for arranging the elastic member 72after diameter expansion thereof.

Note that in the second embodiment, the form in which two protrudedportions 72 b of the elastic member 72 and two recessed portions 22 f ofthe shoulder portion 22 b are provided has been described by way ofexample, but the number of protruded and recessed portions and the sizesof the protruded and recessed portions can be freely changed.

Third Embodiment

Next, an electromagnetic valve unit according to a third embodiment ofthe present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. Note that configuration description overlapping with those of theabove-described embodiments will be omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 9 , an elastic member 73 in the third embodimentis configured such that a protruded portion 73 b protruding downwardfrom a center portion of a lower surface 7 c of an annular portion 7 a,which has an elongated rectangular sectional shape, in a radialdirection is formed in an annular shape along the annular portion 7 a.That is, the annular portion 7 a is formed wider in the radial directionthan the protruded portion 73 b, and from an outer diameter side to aninner diameter side as indicated by a virtual chain line in FIG. 10 forthe sake of convenience in description, an outer-diameter-sidedeformation portion 71 a not overlapping with the protruded portion 73 bin an axial direction, an intermediate portion 71 c overlapping with theprotruded portion 73 b in the axial direction, and aninner-diameter-side deformation portion 71 b not overlapping with theprotruded portion 73 b in the axial direction are positioned.

As illustrated in FIG. 10 , the elastic member 73 is attached to ashoulder portion 23 b of a coil portion 2. Specifically, the shoulderportion 23 b is in a step shape including a horizontal surface 23 dhorizontally extending from an outer peripheral surface 2 c of the coilportion 2 in an inner diameter direction and a vertical surface 23 estanding upward from an inner-diameter-side end portion of thehorizontal surface 23 d, and an annular recessed portion 23 f is formedalong the horizontal surface 23 d.

The protruded portion 73 b of the elastic member 73 is press-fitted inthe recessed portion 23 f of the shoulder portion 23 b, and an annularportion 7 a is fitted onto the vertical surface 23 e. According to sucha configuration, the elastic member 73 can be reliably attached to theshoulder portion 23 b of the coil portion 2 by repulsive force (seewhite arrows in an enlarged portion of FIG. 10 ) of the protrudedportion 73 b, which is press-fitted in the recessed portion 23 f, in theradial direction and additionally-acting clamping force (see a blackarrow in the enlarged portion of FIG. 10 ) of the annular portion 7 a inthe inner diameter direction. Moreover, attachment directions of theprotruded portion 73 b and the annular portion 7 a are the same as eachother (i.e., both corresponding to an upper-lower direction in thisembodiment), and therefore, it is not necessary to greatlydiameter-expand the protruded portion 73 b and assembly of the elasticmember 73 with the shoulder portion 23 b is facilitated. Further, theouter-diameter-side deformation portion 71 a and the inner-diameter-sidedeformation portion 71 b do not overlap with the protruded portion 73 bin an axis line direction, and therefore, intrinsic stress of theprotruded portion 73 b provides no influence on deformation of theouter-diameter-side deformation portion 71 a and the inner-diameter-sidedeformation portion 71 b in the axial direction.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above withreference to the drawings, but specific configurations are not limitedto these embodiments. Even changes and additions made without departingfrom the scope of the present invention are included in the presentinvention.

For example, in the first to third embodiments above, the buffer device10 has been described as one example of a target to which theelectromagnetic valve unit is attached. However, as long as theelectromagnetic valve unit is sandwiched between the housing recessedportion and a connection member connected to the control equipment, theelectromagnetic valve unit may be attached to another type of controlequipment.

Moreover, in the first to third embodiments above, the form in which thetubular body 15 as the pressing member is screwed into and connected tothe housing recessed portion 14A has been described by way of example,but fixing by swaging may be employed. Moreover, the connection membermay be freely changed depending on, e.g., use environment where theelectromagnetic valve unit is attached and the field of theelectromagnetic valve unit.

Further, in the first to third embodiments above, the form in which anupper surface of the deformation portion of the elastic member is in aflat shape in the circumferential direction has been described by way ofexample, but the present invention is not limited to such a form. Aprotrusion may be provided on the upper surface of the deformationportion of the elastic member. According to such a configuration,sandwiching force is concentrated on the protrusion when the deformationportion is, in the axial direction, sandwiched between the receivingportion of the housing recessed portion and the shoulder portion of theelectromagnetic valve unit, and therefore, repulsive force in the axialdirection can be greatly ensured.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   -   1 Electromagnetic valve unit    -   2 Coil portion    -   2 b Shoulder portion    -   2 f Recessed portion    -   3 Solenoid rod (movable iron core)    -   7 Elastic member    -   7 a Annular portion (deformation portion)    -   7 b Protruded portion    -   10 Buffer device    -   14A Housing recessed portion (housing portion)    -   14 d Horizontal surface (receiving portion)    -   15 Tubular body (pressing member)    -   22 b Shoulder portion    -   22 f Recessed portion    -   23 b Shoulder portion    -   23 d Horizontal surface    -   23 f Recessed portion    -   72 Elastic member    -   72 b Protruded portion    -   73 Elastic member    -   73 b Protruded portion    -   700 Elastic member

1. An electromagnetic valve unit configured to be held sandwichedbetween a receiving portion of a housing portion of control equipmentand a pressing member in an axial direction of the electromagnetic valveunit, comprising: a shoulder portion configured to be opposed to thereceiving portion of the housing portion; and an annular elastic memberprovided with a protruded portion configured to be inserted into arecessed portion formed at the shoulder portion, wherein the annularelastic member is further provided with an annular deformation portionthat is deformable in the axial direction of the electromagnet valveunit so as not to press the protruded portion in the axial direction,and the recessed portion and the protruded portion are partially formedin the circumferential direction.
 2. The electromagnetic valve unitaccording to claim 1, wherein the recessed portion is formed in theshoulder portion and is configured so as to be recessed in a radiallyinward direction with a wall portion remaining in the axial direction,and the protruded portion is protruded in the radially inward direction.3. The electromagnetic valve unit according to claim 1, wherein theprotruded portion is press-fitted in the recessed portion.
 4. Theelectromagnetic valve unit according to claim 1, wherein the deformationportion is arranged along an outer peripheral surface of the shoulderportion.
 5. The electromagnetic valve unit according to claim 1, whereinan outer diameter of the deformation portion is smaller than an innerdiameter of the housing portion.
 6. The electromagnetic valve unitaccording to claim 1, comprising a plurality of the recessed portionsand a plurality of the protruded portions equiangularly arranged in thecircumferential direction.
 7. The electromagnetic valve unit accordingto claim 2, wherein the protruded portion is press-fitted in therecessed portion.
 8. The electromagnetic valve unit according to claim2, wherein the deformation portion is arranged along an outer peripheralsurface of the shoulder portion.
 9. The electromagnetic valve unitaccording to claim 2, wherein an outer diameter of the deformationportion is smaller than an inner diameter of the housing portion. 10.The electromagnetic valve unit according to claim 2, comprising aplurality of the recessed portions and a plurality of the protrudedportions equiangularly arranged in the circumferential direction.
 11. Anelectromagnetic valve unit configured to be held sandwiched between areceiving portion of a housing portion of control equipment and apressing member in an axial direction of the electromagnetic valve unit,comprising: a shoulder portion configured to be opposed to the receivingportion of the housing portion; and an annular elastic member providedwith a protruded portion configured to be inserted into a recessedportion formed at the shoulder portion, wherein the annular elasticmember is further provided with an annular deformation portion that isdeformable in the axial direction of the electromagnet valve unit so asnot to press the protruded portion in the axial direction, the recessedportion is formed to be recessed in the axial direction, and theprotruded portion is formed to be protruded in the axial direction. 12.The electromagnetic valve unit according to claim 11, wherein theprotruded portion is press-fitted in the recessed portion.
 13. Theelectromagnetic valve unit according to claim 11, wherein the recessedportion and the protruded portion are formed in an annular shape. 14.The electromagnetic valve unit according to claim 11, wherein theelastic member includes an annular portion from which the protrudedportion is protruded in the axial direction, the annular portion isconstituted by an outer-diameter-side portion not overlapping with theprotruded portion in the axial direction, an inner-diameter-side portionnot overlapping with the protruded portion in the axial direction, andan intermediate portion provided between the outer-diameter-side portionand the inner-diameter-side portion and overlapping with the protrudedportion in the axial direction, and the deformation portion is formed bythe outer-diameter-side portion and the inner-diameter-side portion. 15.The electromagnetic valve unit according to claim 11, wherein theshoulder portion has a stepped shape formed by an end surface extendingfrom an outer peripheral surface of the electromagnetic valve unit in adirection perpendicular to the axial direction and an outer peripheralsurface extending from a radially inward edge of the end surface in theaxial direction, and the recessed portion is formed in the end surfaceof the shoulder portion.
 16. The electromagnetic valve unit according toclaim 12, wherein the recessed portion and the protruded portion areformed in an annular shape.
 17. The electromagnetic valve unit accordingto claim 12, wherein the elastic member includes an annular portion fromwhich the protruded portion is protruded in the axial direction, theannular portion is constituted by an outer-diameter-side portion notoverlapping with the protruded portion in the axial direction, aninner-diameter-side portion not overlapping with the protruded portionin the axial direction, and an intermediate portion provided between theouter-diameter-side portion and the inner-diameter-side portion andoverlapping with the protruded portion in the axial direction, and thedeformation portion is formed by the outer-diameter-side portion and theinner-diameter-side portion.
 18. The electromagnetic valve unitaccording to claim 12, wherein the shoulder portion has a stepped shapeformed by an end surface extending from an outer peripheral surface ofthe electromagnetic valve unit in a direction perpendicular to the axialdirection and an outer peripheral surface extending from a radiallyinward edge of the end surface in the axial direction, and the recessedportion is formed in the end surface of the shoulder portion.